Islamabad: A Pakistani cleric, who has been placed by the US on a terror watch list, has extended his support to Imran Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the general election scheduled for July 25, a media report said on Wednesday.

The cleric, Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil, was placed by the US government on the Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT) list on September 30, 2014, for his alleged role in the Harkat-ul Mujahideen (HuM) militant organisation, which he reportedly founded in the past, the Express Tribune reported.

He later started the Ansarul Ummah, which he claims is a political party. Both HuM and the Ummah are on the US list.

The party also took part in the last local government elections.

However, many were surprised when senior party leader Asad Umar took to social media to announce that Khalil along with hundreds of other clerics had joined the PTI, the daily reported.

"Maulana Fazlur Rehman Kahlil has joined the PTI along with hundreds of his followers and clerics," Umar wrote in a Facebook post with a series of pictures showing Umar being welcomed by Khalil and others and the two addressing the ceremony.

When contacted, Khalil confirmed that he and other clerics had hosted Umar on Sunday and decided to support him in the elections.

However, Khalil clarified that he had not joined the PTI. "We are not joining the PTI. We just announced to support Asad Umar in NA-54," he was quoted as saying by the daily.

When contacted, Umar said he was unaware whether Khalil was on the US-designated list of terrorists. "I have known him for three years. He has condemned terrorist activities by the TTP and made efforts for unity and harmony between various religious groups and sects. This is what I like about him," he said.

Sharif open trial

Pakistan's caretaker government on Wednesday approved the open trial of Nawaz Sharif in the remaining two graft cases against him, withdrawing an earlier notification about the two cases.

Sharif, 68, along with his daughter Maryam, 44 and his son-in-law Captain Muhammad Safdar are serving jail terms of 10 years, seven years and one year respectively in Adiala jail, Rawalpindi, after an accountability court convicted them on July 6 over the family's ownership of four luxury flats in London.

The former Prime Minister has two more pending corruption cases - the Al-Azizia steel mills and Flagship - against him.

The cabinet, led by interim Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk, approved the open trial in the two cases lodged against him by the National Accountability Bureau.

"It has been decided to let the accountability court hear the remaining two cases against Sharif to ensure his fair trial under Article 10 of the constitution," law minister Ali Zafar said. PTI